Demonstration model of Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century.

Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century. Demonstration model of  Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1, 19th century.

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Trial model for part of Babbage's difference engine on board, and separate wooden board

This trial model for part of Babbage's Difference Engine No. 1 was built by Henry Prevost Babbage (1824-1918) from the designs of his father, British computing pioneer Charles Babbage (1791-1871). This was one of approximately six demonstration models of the calculating mechanism of Engine No. 1 built by Henry after his father's death, using unused parts from the original. Charles Babbage conceived the idea of building an automatic calculating machine which would eliminate the inaccuracy that occurred when compiling mathematical tables by hand. Never built during Charles Babbage's lifetime, it was a decimal digital machine - the value of a number being represented by the positions of toothed wheels marked with decimal numbers.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
1967-70
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy), steel (metal), paper (fibre product) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
Overall: 315 mm x 385 mm x 340 mm, 27.5 kg
type:
model
credit:
University College London